Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-12-17

RULES on THE HUME
aDid you succeed to-day'"
aNo: would not be back here II I had sue
ceeded-
so said the applicant at the Night Lodging.
House who entered Just az TEE STAR reporter had
taken a seat In the ONCE. 1t was the superin-
tendent VINO put the question. The applicant was
8 OF nfty or more. somewhat rotund in
figure. with a ford face and a white moustache,
altogether rather distinguished looking The trays
on the edges OF his trouser egS and the fact that
he outtoned his coat across his breast IS TO
ceal his shirt bosom, were signs Of l-fortune. He
was picture Of adversely struggling TO keep up a
good appearances. His derby hat was neatly
brushed, AMI there was strange mixture OF neat
ness and shaooiness about his person when the
superintendent was through his Inquiries THE STAR
reporter ventured a question
Looking for employment"
Yes. SIR said shabby -genteel, and then he
grew somewhat eloquent, believing apparently
merchant wanted a oookkeeper, \ could keep his
tooks, single entry or double entry; could take
snarge OF large business wholesale grocery for
"a good oookkeeper?"
"Yes- ! am good bookkeeper.s
Then how Is It that you are 30 down In your
luck?"
shabby gsnteei here became melo-dramafic.
q, NY friend he said 20 imaginary q SLOW music;
was prosperous man. endorsed for eso, 900 and
II cost me twice that 10 pay IT, In an unguarded
go back, said the superintendent, and shabby
genteei was conducted away to the soup-room In
the rear and as Re dparsd !as % ssqs
BEFORE was his only comment
TEE SIgHT LoDGNe-aoUss
occupies the building next 10 the first precinct
station house, on 18th street. big board sign
over the front door by day, q lamp sign BY night,
informs the public that this Is a free lodging
house. 1t was once a dwelling house. and Is ar
ranged rs Is usual with three-story city dwellings
Of the conventional pattern Spt ,, On straish,
fight OF stairs leading straight upward from the
han, there being on the first floor small front
back building, an straight and square. The hall
way Is bare Of furniture or carpet The front room
Fums sss ana receives his gaesta
An ODD Desc.
An old faro table serves as Q desk, and Mr.. Plum
sill sits in the place OF the dealer. What memories
this old table must call up In the minds OF some OF
the shabby genteel fraternity who come to it now
could only speak, II theosophy is true one who
became en- rapport with this table would live over
tts me @1To1, sn Ssn
Hastily dressed men, with big diamonds and huge
watch-chains, other men not so fiashiy sttired,
some OF them unnaturally hilarious, others
maudlin, others depressed and nervous all
sharply eager In the attention given to
the cards turned over by the dealer; now and
SPAR, the rattle OF ivory checks, the clink OF
glasses, perhaps an angry quarrel and the flash OF
fragments that would be arranged In endless va
Iety In the astral kaleidoscope OF this table And
table. as well as with some OF the shabby men who
come up toit now 10 be questioned BY Superintend-
ent Piumsin and be told 10 go back
THE OFFICE.
The room where It stands is lighted with one
fiarins gas-burner. On the mantei is an old clock
Of large size that ticks on the time In q mournful
way. On a cot, In q corner, covered with gray
blanket. kitten gambols and makes frantic
efforts 10 catch IT'S tail Alatrobe stove sheds
helps TO dispel any sad thoughts that the sight Of
the old table and OF some OF the applicants for
when he comes TO the free lodging house, 1nds
light and warmth and an abundance OF good SOUP
Without aSy Extras TSere are mo- Bu as caT
pets In this hOte In fact, no carpets at ALL no up
holsferei furniture costly table service nothing
Mr.. Plumsill the superintendent Ia q slender
wiry-looking man, with q bountiful supply OF iron
gray hair that has tendency to stand up straight
as the night wears on, due 70 q habit or running
his hand upward through his locks, and q rather
iierce.looking moustache. He speaks sharply and
are likely 10 stand In awe OF him at first, but many
little thoughtful act for their comfort symp
the iodSers Know before J thsy saye tsas ns has
big heart In his little body.
TIE APPIIcANrS.
And as TIE STAR reporter sits there they come
in One IL old soldier from Hampton who has
come 70 sex an increase OF pension and Is stranded
here In penniless condition. Another IS a burly
young blacksmith who Is looking for work. Others
have other trades or are unskilled laborers; now
salesman: and now man Of tattered aspect an ND
easy loquacity. unmistakably tramp Of the talk
auve kind. Then q detective officer came In with
a man VINO had stopped him on the Avenue and
asked the "loan- Of aquarter. 81 saw he was not
drinking man." said the ofncer, .and that he was
In hard luck. I asked him n he did not know that
m Reg vnU
on the street. and he said he did not, that be had
TO beg 70 get lodging. He Is q respectable man,
10 q station-house."
TIE PLANTATION.
As these applicants came In Mr.. Pumsill's first
question 10 each was: "Have you been here be-
fore?' some had never been there two or three
had been there the night before ana the nsnt be-.
fore that To those who had come for the third
night, Mr.. Piumsill remarked shortly, as he put
they could not come again after that night as the
limit OF each lodgers stay Ii three nights The new
they were net By an n Attendant Who Who eta%ined
their clothing. The fate OF the lodger depended
somewnat ON tins examination When he re-
him and reported al night" or In blunt expressive
language. "He's got those things on him. Those
min The Applicants sniicteS with .ahcse 1hiin Ses
were releeted I'VE cannot take them In" said
Mr. Piunsill 'tf We did We would soon be
OS.tNA -S-o WIN NcInuu men Oh
whom an Infavorable report was made by
the attendant were sent by the superin.
tendent % the station-house for lodging. and
Told that they could get their breakfast at the
lodgfng-house He gave them ticket or passport
10 the station house which read SIMPLY ssRe1ected
cause, vernin-" THAT means" said Mr.. Piumsill.
that there Is nothing against them except yer.
min Those VINO passed this preliminary exami-
nation returned 70 the ONCE and were reouired
n they could write, TO sign their names In a BOOK
Then opposite their names the superfntendenr
made record Of their age, occupation NATIVITY
DESTINATION and social condition.
SENT BACK.
When the applicant had given the required In.
formation ne was told TO go back" He went
back In company with an attendant, To ago
back" was TO go 10 a rear room used as a sitting
room. IL was furnished with q big stove and
couple OF benches ON the wall on one side were
posted the rules OF the house When The STAR
reporter went back, dozen or more dodgers were
congregated there waiting for supper and bed
Some OF them were very Tired ana hungry looking
one had an Old greasy newspaper and dozed
over 10 under the gas-Jet near the stove
Prom the next room came the odor OF soup. Here
table was laid with six plates and six chunks OF
bread On cooking stove stood a big pot that
gave forth the soupy odOr. A stout good-natured
young man was stirring the contents OF the nor
SIX men at time are given supper. In the morn
lag al have to be fed at time the dodgers are
shown % an adjoining roon where there Is a long
tah- Here they are given a good foundation OF
coffee and bread 70 begin the tramp and strug-
g.e u the day on
GOING TO BED.
At O'Clock the men are sent upstairs In tyos
and threes. They do not 90 TO bed but are put
through & bath They leave their clothing ia one